Reinforced concrete product machine



y 1959 L. A. GOOSSENS 2,896,297

REINFORCED CONCRETE PRODUCT MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l TIE: I].

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July 28, 1959 L. A. GOOSSENS REINFORCED CONCRETE PRODUCT MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1954 INVENTOR.

(CU/.3 4. GOO-SSE/VS BY ATTORNEY 2,896,297 Patented July 28, 1959 REINFORCED CONtIRETE PRODUCT MACHINE Louis A. Goossens, Center Line, Mich.

Application October 25, 1954, Serial No. 464,543

3 Claims. (Cl. 25-41) This invention relates to a reinforced concrete post or beam making machine which is adapted to hold and vibrate the post form and reinforcing structure therein and to fill the form as the form is vibrated to settle the aggregate around the reinforcing members to produce a post without having air pockets.

Reinforced concrete posts, bars, beams, and strut making machinery has been employed heretofore to facilitate the production of such reinforced concrete products, however, the several devices of the prior art have not proven entirely satisfactory inasmuch as they are complicated in design, and construction, expensive to manufacture, diificult to use, and the resultant in product is unsatisfactory due to the fact that it usually has weak points occasioned by the separation in the aggregate due to the reinforcing forms not being properly integrated in the aggregate.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the invention is to provide a concrete post or beam making machine which is simple in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, and which is capable of making a product which is free of air pockets so that the resultant product has homogeneous strength characteristics regardless of the reinforcing members.

An object of the invention is to provide a two piece form which is easily removable from the manufactured post while it is still in the wet uncured state.

An object of the invention is to provide a cross brace in the reinforcing members which are capable of travelling downwardly with the aggregate as the aggregate is settled in the form around the reinforcing members.

An object of the invention is to provide a vibrator frame which is capable of receiving, holding, and clamping the post form.

An object of the invention is to provide a rubber floating and cushioned universally suspended mounting for the vibrating frame.

An object of the invention is to provide a supporting frame for the vibrating frame upon which is located a hopper which is adapted to feed the form in the vibrating frame while the vibrating frame is vibrating the formto settle the aggregate therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a vibrating mechanism on the vibrating frame which is separate and independent from the supporting frame.

An object of the invention is to provide eccentrically disposed weights on a rotating shaft on the vibrating frame which is capable of transmitting a universal dynamic vibration to the form so that the aggregate in the form is subjected to a universal dynamic vibration to settle the aggregate in all parts of the form equally and homogeneously disposed.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple power means for furnishing power to the shaft upon which the eccentric weights are disposed.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of a concrete post form or beam making machine embodying the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention showing a form clamped in operating position.

Fig. 2 is a foreshortened cross-sectional view of the form showing the disposition of the reinforcing members therein and the movable intermediate bracing members on the reinforcing members.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken on the line 3-3 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken on the line 4-4 thereof.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken on the line 5-5 thereof.

Fig. 6 is a partial side elevational view of Fig. 1 taken on the line 6-6 thereof; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the cushion rubber floating suspensions for supporting the vibrating frame.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the vibrating machine, and theforms and re inforcing construction disclosed therein to illustrate the invention comprises a base 10 having paired front stanchions lit and 12 rising upwardly therefrom to form a high substantially square supporting frame member for the device. A platform 13 is mounted between the stanchions and is adapted to support the motor 14 which is in turn adapted to drive the vibrating mechanism as hereinafter more fully described.

The paired arms 15 and 16 are connected at the lower portions of the stanchions 11 and 12 respectively and the paired arms 17 and 18 are connected to the stanchions 11 and 12 adjacent the top portions thereof respectively and it is to be noted that the arms 15-18 are equipped with rubber cushion receiving cups, 19-22 for receiving the rubber cushions 23-26 respectively. Surrnounted on the rubber cushions 23-26 are the top enclosing cups 29-36 which fit over the rubber cushions 23-26 respectively and it is to be noted that the arms or brackets 31-24 are connected to the receiving cups 27-39 respectively and support the vibrating frame member 35 resiliently within the stanchion members. Additional rubber blocks 36-39 are positioned below the receiving cups 19-22 and the bolts 40-43 are respectively fitted through the cups and brackets and are engaged by the nuts 44-47 which urge the Washers 48-51 against the rubber blocks 36-39 respectively so that it can now be seen that the vibrating frame 35 is resiliently floatingly mounted relative to the stanchions of the main frame work.

The vibrating frame 35 is comprised of vertical side members 60 and 61 interconnected by the back braces 63 which are disposed at spaced intervals over the length of the side members 60 and 61 so that the side members are firmly integrated together and the cross braces 63 are equipped with semi-circular receiving chambers or other shaped sockets adapted to receive the concrete form as hereinafter more fully described and the back braces 63 are connectedwith a support rod 64 running through the braces 63 so as to support them additionally.

Swingably connected to the front portions of the side members 60 and 61 are the front clamping brace members 65 which are pivotally connected as at 66 to the support member 60 such as via the ears 67 and are clampingly connected to the support member 61 as per the mechanism 6% which can be any suitable pressure type clamping mechanisms capable of forcing the pivoted front braces 65 into forced engagement with the front part of the form as hereinafter more fully described and the frontbraces 65 are interconnected such as by the reinforcing rod 69 so that they move as a unit when they pivot and are equipped with sockets to receive the form.

The concrete post or beam form comprises two like half round members including a back form portion 70 and a front form portion 71 both of which rest at their bottom .ends in the annular foot portion 72 which holds the form b'ottorn portions together and to block the end of the form as by the member 73 which fits internally of the form members 70 and 71 at the lower end thereof; which lower foot is more fully described hereinafter in conjunction with the operation of the form.

The reinforcing structure for the concrete post or beam machine before comprises a top annulus 75 welded to the outside of the longitudinal reinforcing rods 76 which are disposed in a circular pattern and a bottom reinforcing ring 77 which is welded to the interior of the reinforcing rods 76 so that the top ring 75 allows additional room for the introduction of the concrete aggregate into the form from the top thereof from the hopper 78 which is equipped with blades 79 for directing the concrete to' the central portion of the hopper over the aperture in the bottom thereof designated at 80 for introduction into the top of the form. The blades 79 are fixed to the rotatable shaft 81 which is rotated by any suitable power means to keep the aggregate properly agitated and moved to the central area of the hopper over the aperture 80.

Relative to the vibrating mechanism, the ears 90 and 91 are attached to the support members 60 and 61 respectively and in turn support the bearings 92 and 93 which rotatably support the axle 94 which carries the pulley 95 which is driven by the motor 14 via the belt 96 and the belt 96 is adapted to loosely engage the pulleys in nondriving position normally, and, when the vibrating frame 35 is desired to be rotated, the idler pulley 97 is adapted to be swung into engagement with the belt 96 to tighten same on the pulleys via the handle 99 and the crank frame 100 which carries the idler pulley 97.

Disposed on the axle 94 are one or more eccentric weights 101, 102, and 103 which are cocked relative to one another so as to produce an unbalance in rotation of the shaft 94 to produce a vibration on the frame 35 which is adapted to throw the frame into a universal dynamic vibration so that the frame 35 is vibrating longitudinally and universally cross-wise at the same time thereby subjecting the frame 35 and the concrete forms 70 and 71 to a universal vibratory factor adapted to settle the concrete aggregate in the forms '70 and 71 and around the reinforcing rods 76 and past the supporting rings 75 and 77. ln this connection, it is to be noted that the intermediate supporting rings 105 and104 are loosely surrounding the rods 76 so that they can move downwardly with the concrete aggregate as it is settled in the forms 70 and 7 1 so that the intermediate reinforcing members are capable of keeping the rods from spreading side wise outwardly under the pressure of the vibrating concrete aggregate yet will slide downwardly with the concrete aggregate to form a solid mass therewith and to thereby eliminate .the formation of air pockets which would destroy the strength characteristics of the post or beam in its most critical portion midway between the ends thereof.

Relative to the assembly of the device, the concrete aggregate is placed in the hopper 78 and the back form 70 is placed againstthe back braces 63 and'the reinforcing rodsjstructure 74 is placed against the form 70 and then the front form 71 is placed thereover. It is to be noted that the top reinforcing rings 75 properly position the reinforcing structure 74 relative to the top of the device and that the intermediate supporting portions 104 and 105 or rings support the reinforcing structure immediate the ends thereof while the up-turned edge portion 106-on the bottom plate 73 of the foot 72 centrally positions the ends of the rod 76 to properly locate the reinforcing structure 74 at the bottom end thereof. The clamping-front brace members 65 are then placed against r 4 the outer form 71 and the clamping mechanism 68 operated to securely lock the front brace support 65 against the forms and the device is now ready for operation.

Upon the rotation of the rod 81, the blades 79 churn the concrete into the central area of the hopper and it drops through the apertures into the top of the forms 70 and 71 internally of the reinforcing rings 75 and drops downwardly therein to the bottom of the device and it is to be noted that the foot 71 is equipped with a strong reinforcing pad 107 which is adapted to support the central area of the plate 73. Upon the form being filled with aggregate, the handle 79 is moved to throw the idler pulley 97 into engagement with the belt 96 so as to activate the axle 94 carrying the eccentric Weights 101, 102, and 103 thereupon the universal dynamic vibration is set up in the form to settle the concrete around the reinforcing rods so that no air pockets can exist and as the aggregate settles in the form. The blades 81 continue to feed the concrete into the forms until it is full in conjunction with complete settling via the vibration of the concrete aggregate in the forms. When filling of the form is accomplished, the power to the rod 81 in the hopper is stopped and the feeding of concrete aggregate is terminated and the handle 99 is released allowing the belt 96 to lie slack thereby eliminating the drive to the vibrating mechanism.

To remove the form with the concrete post or beam therein, the clamping mechanism 68 is loosened and the front braces are swung away from the front of the form whereupon the hand knob 107 is given several turns which is adapted to move the form with the posts therein upwardly to remove the lower ends of the forms 109 and 110 out of the device and laid upon a smooth flat-surface where one form is removed from one side of the-post or bar and the reinforced concrete post then rolled over on the smooth surface free of the remaining form whereupon the remaining form is removed therefrom and the post allowed to lie on the smooth flat surface to cure.

Due to the fact that the vibrating frame 35 is integrated in floating dynamic suspension on the rubber cushions or springs 23 through 26 in conjunction with the rubber blocks 3639, the vibrating frame 35 and the forms 70 and 71, and reinforcing members 74 are not subjected to shock stresses. The vibrating conditions of the device tend to travel the aggregate homogeneously so that no separation in the aggregate occurs.

Due to the fact that the vibrating weights 101, 102, and/or 103 are operated in air, no shock loads are imparted to the vibrating frame and no hammering action occurs, but rather the frame floats on the suspending rubber cushions 2326 in conjunction with the rubber blocks 36-39 so that the aggregate is moved in an undisturbed state into proper positioning.

It has been found with the use of very'few form members 70 and 71 a substantially continuous operation can be established with the device so that while one form is being loaded, one form can be removed from a previously manufactured post and another form prepared for reinsertion in the machine with the assistance of only a 'few work men.

The inventive concrete reinforced post or-beam making machine with these features constitutes a compact, durable, inexpensive, efficient and neat appearing and easily cleaned mechanism which is easily operated by a few work men with a very low cost of investment as to machinery and forms for rapidly and continuously manufacturing reinforced concrete posts and beams without the loss of expensive time consuming operations.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, detail, and arrangementsof the various elements of the invention within the scope of'the appended claims. For example, the concrete forms 70 and 71 are shown-substantially cylindrical and it is obvious that'they may be made in any shape such as square, oblong, etc. or any other desired shape and it is also to be pointed out that while the forms 70 and 71 are shown as substantially cylindrical, it is to be considered to be within the purview of the invention to use shapes or forms which change shape from top to bottom such as conically or with large portions and reduced portions therein.

I claim:

1. A synchronously universally vibratory machine for compactive reinforced homogeneous aggregate comprising a primary support structure including vertical support stanchions, a pair of lower arms extending horizontally inwardly from said stanchions, a pair of upper arms extending horizontally inwardly from said stanchions; said arms being vertically aligned relative to one another; a vibratory vertical frame located between both said pairs of arms, a lower pair of brackets horizontally extending from said frame adapted to cooperate with said lower pair of arms, an upper pair of brackets horizontally extending from said frame adapted to cooperate with said upper pair of arms, cylindrical resilient rubber cushions disposed on end between said cooperating arms and brackets and adapted to compressionwise and shearwise universally resiliently floatingly support said frame rela tive to said support structures; said frame being adapted to receive and hold an aggregate form in a vertical position; a horizontal axle on said frame, at least one eccentric weight on said axle running in air, a form vertically disposed on said frame, and means for rotating said axle with said eccentric weight to impart a universal dynamic vibratory non-hammering movement to said disposed in the ends of said arms, brackets, cushions, and

blocks, washers over said blocks, and nuts on said bolts adjacent said washers; said bolts and nuts holding said assembly of parts in resilient floating relationship for universal dynamic vibratory motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 841,080 Engstrom Jan. 8, 1907 884,502 Kyser Apr. 14, 1908 1,574,985 McWain Mar. 2, 1926 1,708,839 Jarrett-Knott Apr. 9, 1929 1,800,401 Pelton Apr. 14, 1931 1,984,863 Clark et al. Dec. 18, 1934 2,382,458 Williams et al. Aug. 14, 1945 2,524,676 Nielsen Oct. 3, 1950 2,819,046 Jandris et al. Jan. 7, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 152,366 Austria Jan. 25, 1938 819,492 France July 12, 1937 676,352 Great Britain July 23, 1952 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1948 

